Are abstinence-only-until-marriage programs effective?
To date, no published studies of abstinence-only programs have found consistent and significant program effects on delaying the onset of intercourse. • The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy’s report titled Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy identifies successful teenage pregnancy-prevention initiatives but indicates that none are abstinence-only programs. The report indicates that evidence is not conclusive about such programs but that, thus far, the information in “not encouraging.” In fact, the report states that none of the evaluated abstinence-only programs “showed an overall positive effect on sexual behavior, nor did they affect contraceptive use among sexually active participants.”26 • Of the previous studies of abstinence-only programs, none have found consistent and significant program effects on delaying the onset of intercourse. At least one has provided strong evidence that the program did not delay the onset of intercourse. T
